Suicide resistant structure

ABSTRACT

A frame disclosed having surfaces which restrict its potential use as a pivot point for fastening of loop material that might be used to foster a suicide. The frame can be used in conjunction with a picture, door, window, etc. The frame in cross-section has a primary surface which is sloped sufficiently to shed any loop material. Concealed means for fastening the frame to a structure further inhibit use of the frame as an aid to suicide.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Any object in an environment occupied by persons with suicidal tendencies presents potential for use by that person as a fulcrum usable with a flexible member to complete a suicide. Persons in extreme mental stress are known to use any manner of flexible strip material such as belts, strips of clothing, even dental floss, to commit suicide by ligature. To execute such ligature the suicidal person needs a flat edge or other means to hang off the surface from which the strip material can be placed when fashioned into a noose to perform ligature.

One solution in suicide prevention is a room with no surface variation in the walls, doors or appliances from which a person with suicidal tendencies can securely attach or loop strip material to implement ligature. This approach has its obvious psychological deficits. A room without adornment will only exacerbate the depressive mood underlying suicidal tendencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Where positive visual stimulation is deemed helpful in an environment where persons with suicidal tendencies reside, or are treated, it is desirable to have the person exposed to calming visual stimuli such as pictures of bucolic scenery, friends, family, pets, etc. But placement of such visual stimuli in a room usually means placement of the stimuli in a picture frame. That frame and any hooks used to hold it on the wall are potential attachment posts for material useable for means of ligature.

This invention provides means which can be used to display visual images or calming information in an environment for treating suicidal patients while reducing the risk of attachment for ligature. Those means include a picture frame with a profile that presents no edges or spaces from which material can be hung to successfully complete a suicide. The frame is also profiled to minimize any opportunity to use a portion of the frame to inflict harm on oneself or others.

The subject suicide resistant structure has a peripheral frame surrounding the images to be displayed. The frame shape has a profile that will not retain strip material that might be used for securing as a method for ligature. Means are provided for tightly fastening the frame to a wall in a manner that no space between the frame and the wall is available to hold such hanging material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a room with the claimed frames arrayed on one or more walls of the room.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the subject frame taken along lines A-A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the subject frame taken along lines B-B of FIG. 1, illustrating a concealed fastener used to attach the frame to a wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The suicide resistant structure of this invention is illustrated as picture frame 1 in the drawings. However, this structure could also be used as decorative trim around any opening in the walls of a space where suicide prevention is paramount, for example, trim around doors, windows, appliances, etc.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the cross sectional profile of the subject frame 1, whether door, picture or window, has a flat planar surface 2, adjacent a wall 4 or other structure to which it will be attached. This surface 2 can optionally be covered or comprised of a thin, compressible facing material 6 on the side of the frame 1 facing wall 4 which assures there are no gaps between frame 1 and wall 4 when attached thereto as described below. That facing can be comprised of any readily compressible, but strong, flat sheet material.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cross-sectional profile of frame 1 has multiple sloped surfaces 10, 12 and 16 with a generally flat plateau 14 between the latter sloped surfaces. The first sloped surface 10 is angled from the flat bottom surface 2 of the frame 1 at an angle “α”. A preferred angle of “α” is from 40 to 50 degrees from the plane of the surface 2 of the frame. The second sloped surface 12 extends at a lesser angle, preferably 20-30 degrees, from the plane of surface 2. This combination of angled surfaces helps to maintain a more structurally substantial edge of the frame. This is important in a setting where a less substantial portion of the frame could be split from the frame and used to promote suicide or used as a weapon.

The next surface 14 on the frame 2 is generally parallel to the bottom surface 2 and is sufficiently wide to provide the following means for attaching the frame to a wall or other solid surface.

This attachment is achieved with fasteners 24 (shown in FIG. 3) that enter through a bore 20 in the frame 1 (See FIG. 3). A cap 22 is cemented into the exterior portion of bore 20 to prevent loosening of fastener 24 to a degree that would allow a hanging strip to be placed between the frame and the wall. A lower right hand corner of the frame (as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3) is cut out with appropriate dimensions to allow a picture to be securely inserted into the frame 1.

Surface 16 on frame 1 is preferably sloped at about a 20-30° angle from the plane of surface 2 on the frame and preferably culminates in a curved surface 18. The multiple sloped surfaces 10, 12, 16 make it difficult, if not impossible, for a suicidal person to find a surface which would retain loop material that might be used to foster a suicide. 

1. (canceled)
 2. The suicide resistant frame of claim 5 wherein the third of three surfaces of the triangular shaped frame extends 40 to 50 degrees from the plane of the first surface.
 3. The suicide resistant structure of claim 5 wherein a compressible facing is placed between the first surface of the triangular shaped frame and the flat structural surface to which the frame frame is attached.
 4. (canceled)
 5. A suicide resistant frame for secure, gap-free fastening to a single flat structural surface, the frame having a generally triangular cross-sectional shape, comprising a first surface of the three cross sectional surfaces of the triangular shaped frame being essentially flat and forming the surface of the frame which is in gap-free relation with the flat structural surface; a second of three surfaces of the triangular shaped frame extending substantially perpendicular to the flat structural surface, and; a third of the three surfaces of the triangular shaped frame extending at an acute angle from the first surface and extending to the second surface wherein the third surface has a plateau therein aligned with a bore for placement of a fastener to assure gap-free placement of the frame on the structural surface. 